A reflection of Rev. Canon Goke Omigbodun – Steering Committee Member, Western Region (Nigeria) Organisation, WRO.
As a quick introduction or presentation as the case may be, the Western Region Organisation (WRO) of Nigeria is an open, peaceful, legitimate advocacy organisation of responsible Nigerian citizens, seeking for the restructuring of government in Nigeria, perhaps towards re-establishment of Regional Governments in a united Federal Republic of Nigeria.
WRO seeks for good governance and life abundant for all in Nigeria, through devolution of powers from the Federal Government to other Federating units in the country.
A re-establishment of the Western Region Government in a Federal Republic of Nigeria, like in the days of Premiers Obafemi Awolowo of Western Nigeria, Michael Okpara of Eastern Nigeria, and Sir Ahmadu Bello of Northern Nigeria, is our objective. The new Western Region of Nigeria is anticipated to co-exist with other regional governments in the North, East, Middle Belt and South of Nigeria, as may emerge through consensus.
Whilst we intend to collaborate with like minded individuals and organisations from all over Nigeria, the enactment of a new Constitution for a new Federal Republic of Nigeria is our proposed vehicle.
Now that you are reminded of what WRO is about, it wouldn’t surprise you that we are interested in the recent threat of Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed that certain Tax Reform Bills, now before the National Assembly in Nigeria, are either withdrawn, or there would be anarchy and intransigency.
Governor Bala’s exact words, as part of his Christmas address to some Christians in his Bauchi State:
“….They are calling for anarchy….they are calling for intransigency…this tax reform…it is not a good policy for Northern Nigeria, because we are not going to get money to pay your salaries…to do runs. They must listen! Otherwise they are calling for anarchy! They must listen to us…”
Statements like the ones quoted above are rather divisive and inciting.
Perhaps just one of the four Bills deals with the VAT administration that Northern Governors have expressed strong reservations about.
A cursory look at the lines of Governor Bala Mohammed suggest that salaries in Northern Nigeria are now being paid with VAT contributed from Southern Nigeria….and that any arrangement that would have those that pay most of the VAT enjoy more of its redistribution to them would invite anarchy and intransigency from the hitherto beneficiaries that contributed little to the common purse!
Iconic Nigerian musician, Ebenezer Obey once popularized a common Yoruba rhetorical rhyme that translates to ponder why someone who picked up what someone else lost, would then want to die holding on to it… what about the original owner from whom it got missen?!
The ultimate solution to all the fight over resource allocation is actually resource control!
In the hey day of the Regional governments in Nigeria of the 1950s and 1960s, all regions of the country controlled enough resources for healthy competitive development.
For instance, Northern Nigeria beat the other regions to establish the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, as the first regional University in Nigeria, whilst the Western Nigeria Television service became the first in Africa! In fact the regional governments had enough resources to actually lend some to the Federal Government!
We therefore seize this opportunity of our reflections on the recent threats of Governor Bala Mohammed, for anarchy and intransigency, to call for immediate steps by ALL governments and peoples of Nigeria, towards the RESTRUCTURING of Nigeria, through a legitimate compilation and institution of a NEW CONSTITUTION, for a NEW FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, with Western Region and others that emerge by consensus, as the federating units.
That’s the best way forward for us now…. away from “…anarchy and intransigency…”!
– Rev. Canon Goke Omigbodun (Steering Committee Member, WRO)
